Local State Lawmakers Earn High Grades for Environmental Record

State lawmakers representing White Plains earned high grades for their record of voting on environmental legislation, according to the 2013 EPL/Environmental Advocates annual scorecard. The results were released Tuesday afternoon.

EPL/Environmental Advocates, which was formed in 1969, is group aimed at promoting environmental protection in New York state through lobbying, advocacy, coalition building, citizen education and policy development.

Assembly members David Buchwald, D-Mount Kisco, and Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale, earned perfect scores of 100 for their environmental voting records in this year’s report card.

Overall, Assembly members had an average score of 85, with the Republican Conference averaging 53 points to the Democratic Conference’s average of 98, according to EPL/Environmental Advocates.

State Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, scored a 77 and state Sen. George Latimer, D-Port Chester, earned a 68.

The state Senate Democratic Conference had an average score of 74, while the Republican Conference had an average score of 45. The Independent Democratic Conference had an average score 51.

Overall, state Assembly members had an average score of 59.

EPL/Environmental Advocates calculates lawmakers’ scores using the ratings of its sister organization, Environmental Advocates of New York.

Legislators earn between one and three points for votes in support of bills that received one, two, or three “trees.” Tree-rated bills are those that will benefit the environment.

Likewise, legislators earn between one and three points for voting against bills that were give a rating of one, two or three “smokestacks.” Smokestack-rated bills are those that will harm New York’s environment.